Connecting Local Agriculture to Global Trade

Not only does Fresno, California, host 1.88 million acres of the world’s most productive farmland, but it’s also where Dewey Robertson calls home. Growing up in the heart of the Central Valley, Dewey’s journey into agricultural economics was driven by his interests in policy and trade effects on the ag sector. Though he didn’t grow up on a farm, experiences like working in raisin vineyards and trucking fruit alongside being surrounded by many agribusiness professionals provided a glimpse into the realities of the agriculture industry.

“The agriculture sector is the most important sector to the structure of human society; the food we eat and the stability of our cities, in the United States and the world at large, depend on smooth running agricultural supply chains.”

After completing his undergraduate studies at Utah State, Dewey sought to deepen his understanding of the policy and economic forces shaping agriculture through academic research. Encouraged by a Utah State professor whose own academic journey included graduating from Purdue, Dewey was drawn to the MS program in agricultural economics, which the professor held in high esteem. With its Extension research centers, Purdue’s agricultural economics department offers many opportunities to explore diverse aspects of the agricultural economy. The chance to engage with the renowned Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) further fueled Dewey's excitement about joining a program that aligned perfectly with his interests in agricultural policy and international trade.

Current Research and Academic Engagement

At Purdue, Dewey has found mentorship and guidance through Dr. Roman Keeney and Dr. Todd Kuethe. Dr. Keeney has been helping to integrate Dewey into the GTAP community and supporting research in agricultural policy with collaborations that include a paper currently under review at Applied Economics Policy and Perspective (AEPP). Additionally, Dr. Kuethe, as Dewey’s major thesis advisor, has helped refine research interests and build connections at Purdue and nationally.

Focusing on agricultural policy, commodity markets and trade, Dewey’s thesis explores rationality in Indiana farmland expectations.

“Using data from the Purdue Farmland Values and Cash Rents Survey, we employ forthcoming methods for testing forecast rationality when the measure of central tendency used by survey respondents is unknown. I am also working on a project that analyzes the effect trade aid payments have on grain storage participation during low prices caused by trade uncertainty.”

Beyond research, Dewey is an active member of Purdue’s agricultural economics community, serving as treasurer for the Ag Econ Graduate Student Organization (GSO) and participating in the department’s ag finance group.

Not only does Dewey participate in Purdue life on campus, but he’s also had travel opportunities to present his research and represent Purdue across the nation, including:

• Presenting at the 27th Annual Conference on Global Economic Analysis in Fort Collins, CO,
• Presenting a poster and competing in the graduate case study competition at the 2024 Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) annual meeting in New Orleans, LA
• Attending the Midwest Agricultural Conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago